Free Things to Do in the USA
National park fee-free days, money-saving park passes and free museums that can cut your attractions budget to almost nothing.
Get Free Trip QuotesSome of the best things to see in America cost nothing at all. Free museums, monuments, beaches, city parks and many national park sites need no ticket, and the parks that do charge an entrance fee waive it on a few days each year. Build a budget trip around them and the attractions line of your spending can shrink to almost nothing.
National Park Fee-Free Days
The National Park Service sets a handful of days each year when entrance fees are waived at parks that normally charge them. For 2026 the NPS fee-free days list included Presidents Day (February 16), Memorial Day (May 25), Flag Day (June 14), the Independence Day weekend (July 3 to 5), the Park Service’s 110th birthday (August 25), Constitution Day (September 17), Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday (October 27) and Veterans Day (November 11).
- From 2026, the NPS says free entrance on these days is for US citizens and residents only.
- Other charges, such as timed-entry reservations, camping and tours, may still apply.
- Free days are popular, so expect busier parking lots and trails and arrive early.
- Many NPS sites never charge an entrance fee at all; check the park’s own page.
Passes That Pay for Themselves
If you will visit several federal parks or recreation areas in a year, the America the Beautiful passes may cost less than paying at each gate. The NPS lists several kinds, including an annual pass, a pass for US citizens and residents 62 and over, a free Access Pass for citizens and residents with a permanent disability, a pass for fourth graders and their families, and passes for the military. Passes cover entrance and standard amenity fees at participating federal sites, and you need photo ID with them.
Free Museums and City Sights
Washington, DC is the standout. The Smithsonian says admission is free at all its museums except Cooper Hewitt in New York City, and the monuments and memorials on and around the National Mall are open to walk around without a ticket. A few Smithsonian museums use free timed passes, so reserve ahead.
Other cities have their own free collections. In St. Louis, the Saint Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum and the Saint Louis Science Center in Forest Park offer free general admission, with charges for some special exhibits and attractions. Many cities also have free days at paid museums, free summer concerts and free walking tours that run on tips; a city’s official visitor bureau site is the best place to find them.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the national park free days?
The National Park Service publishes the list each year. For 2026 it named Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, the Independence Day weekend, the Park Service’s birthday in August, Constitution Day, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday in October and Veterans Day. Check the NPS fee-free page for the current year before you plan around a date.
Are Smithsonian museums really free?
Yes. The Smithsonian says admission is free at all its locations except Cooper Hewitt in New York City. A few of its Washington museums ask visitors to reserve free timed passes, so check before you go.
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